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Louis Gossett Jr.

Louis Gossett Jr.

Louis Gossett Jr. (May 27, 1936 – March 29, 2024) was an American film and television actor, best known for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the movie "An Officer and a Gentleman" and as Fiddler in the television miniseries "Roots". He won an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards in an acting career that spanned over five decades.

Known for

Sin

2025 • Elijah

2024 • Lewis (voice)

The Color Purple

The Color Purple

2023 • Ol' Mister

Outlaw Johnny Black

Outlaw Johnny Black

2023 • Reverend Tharrington (voice) (uncredited)

Sidney

Three Months

Not to Forget

2021 • Pastor John

I Forgive

2021 • God (voice)

Full filmography

Sin

2025 • Elijah

2024 • Lewis (voice)

The Color Purple

The Color Purple

2023 • Ol' Mister

Outlaw Johnny Black

Outlaw Johnny Black

2023 • Reverend Tharrington (voice) (uncredited)

Sidney

2022 • Self

Three Months

2022 • Benny

Not to Forget

2021 • Pastor John

I Forgive

2021 • God (voice)

The Reason

2020 • Pastor Jim

The Cuban

2020 • Luis Garcia

Miracle in East Texas

Miracle in East Texas

2020 • Irving Tanner Jr.

Foster Boy

2019 • Judge George Taylor

Supervized

2019 • Pendle

The Gang Activists

2019 • Self

Hal

2019 • Self

Breaking Brooklyn

Breaking Brooklyn

2018 • Miles Bryant

Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart

Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes / Feeling Heart

2017 • Self

Undercover Grandpa

Undercover Grandpa

2017 • Mother

Double Play

2017 • Coco

King of the Dancehall

King of the Dancehall

2017 • The Bishop

Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise

Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise

2016 • Self

A.C. Green: Iron Virgin

A.C. Green: Iron Virgin

2016 • Himself

Boiling Pot

2015 • Detective Haven

The Dependables

The Dependables

2014 • Lou Jones

A Fighting Man

2014 • Cubby

Miracle at Gate 213

Miracle at Gate 213

2013 • Roy Peddington

Breaking at the Edge

Breaking at the Edge

2013 • Floyd

Smitty

2012 • Mr. Smith

The Undershepherd

The Undershepherd

2012 • Bishop Redford

Dog Jack

2011 • Grown up Jed

The Grace Card

2011 • George Wright

Why Did I Get Married Too?

Why Did I Get Married Too?

2010 • Porter

The Perfect Game

The Perfect Game

2009 • Cool Papa Bell

Amazing Racer

2009 • Max Donovan

The Least Among You

2009 • Samuel Benton

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy

Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy

2009 • Self

Delgo

2008 • King Zahn (voice)

A Love Story of Today

A Love Story of Today

2008 • Self

A Special Kind of Love

A Special Kind of Love

2008 • Self

Stanley Kramer: A Man's Search for Truth

2008 • Self

The Black List: Volume One

The Black List: Volume One

2008 • Self

Stories USA

2007 • Doc (segment "Club Soda")

Cover

2007 • Detective Hicks

Daddy's Little Girls

Daddy's Little Girls

2007 • Willie

The 50 Greatest Television Dramas

The 50 Greatest Television Dramas

2007 • Self

Club Soda

2006 • Doc

Solar Attack

2006 • President Ryan Gordon

All In

2006 • Caps

Left Behind: World at War

Left Behind: World at War

2005 • President Geral Fitzhugh

Lackawanna Blues

Lackawanna Blues

2005 • Ol'lem Taylor

Jasper, Texas

2003 • R.C. Horn

Momentum

2003 • Raymond Addison

What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Away

What About Your Friends: Weekend Get-Away

2002 • Dr. Barnes

Deceived

2002 • Col. David Garrett

For Love of Olivia

For Love of Olivia

2001 • Daniel Stewart

Dr. Lucille

2001

The Color of Love: Jacey's Story

The Color of Love: Jacey's Story

2000 • Lou Hastings

The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence

The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence

2000 • Frank

The Highwayman

2000 • Phil Bishop

Strange Justice

Strange Justice

1999 • Vernon Jordan

Y2K

1999 • Morgan

Love Songs

1999 • Reuben

The Inspectors

1998 • Inspector Frank Hughes

The Wall That Heals

The Wall That Heals

1998 • Self - Host

Legend of the Mummy

Legend of the Mummy

1998 • Corbeck

Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood

Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood

1998 • Self

In His Father's Shoes

In His Father's Shoes

1997 • Frank Crosby / Richard

To Dance with Olivia

To Dance with Olivia

1997 • Daniel Stewart

Inside

1996 • Questioner

Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story

1996 • Bob Kersee

Captive Heart: The James Mink Story

Captive Heart: The James Mink Story

1996 • James Mink

Managua

1996 • Paul

Iron Eagle on the Attack

Iron Eagle on the Attack

1995 • Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies

The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies

1995 • Self

Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder

Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder

1995 • Ray Alexander

Zooman

1995 • Rueben Tate

A Father for Charlie

A Father for Charlie

1995 • Walter Osgood

Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxing

1995 • Narrator

Flashfire

1994 • Ben Durand

Curse of the Starving Class

Curse of the Starving Class

1994 • Ellis

A Good Man in Africa

A Good Man in Africa

1994 • Prof. Sam Adekunle

Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice

Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice

1994 • Ray Alexander

Blue Chips

1994 • Father Dawkins (uncredited)

Monolith

1993 • Capt. MacCandless

Father & Son: Dangerous Relations

Father & Son: Dangerous Relations

1993 • Leonard Clay

Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II

1992 • Reader (voice)

Diggstown

1992 • "Honey" Roy Palmer

Iron Eagle III

1992 • Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

Keeper of the City

Keeper of the City

1991 • Det. James Dela

Carolina Skeletons

Carolina Skeletons

1991 • James Bragg

Toy Soldiers

1991 • Dean Parker

The Josephine Baker Story

The Josephine Baker Story

1991 • Sidney Williams

Cover-Up

1991 • Lou Jackson

Sudie and Simpson

Sudie and Simpson

1990 • Simpson

El Diablo

1990 • Van Leek

Zora is My Name!

Zora is My Name!

1990

The Punisher

1989 • Jake Berkowitz

Roots: The Gift

Roots: The Gift

1988 • Fiddler

Goodbye, Miss 4th of July

Goodbye, Miss 4th of July

1988 • Big John Creed

Iron Eagle II

1988 • Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

Sam Found Out: A Triple Play

Sam Found Out: A Triple Play

1988 • Sam

The Father Clements Story

The Father Clements Story

1987

The Principal

1987 • Jake Phillips

Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood

Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood

1987 • Self

A Gathering of Old Men

A Gathering of Old Men

1987 • Mathu

Firewalker

1986 • Leo Porter

Iron Eagle

1986 • Charles 'Chappy' Sinclair

Enemy Mine

1985 • Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan

The Guardian

1984 • John Mack

Finders Keepers

Finders Keepers

1984 • Century

Jaws 3-D

1983 • Calvin Bouchard

The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Die

The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Die

1983 • narrator

An Officer and a Gentleman

An Officer and a Gentleman

1982 • Sergeant Emil Foley

Benny's Place

1982 • Benny Moore

I Love Liberty

1982 • Self

Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige

Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy "Satchel" Paige

1981 • Leroy 'Satchel' Paige

It Rained All Night the Day I Left

It Rained All Night the Day I Left

1980 • Leo Garcia

The Lazarus Syndrome

The Lazarus Syndrome

1979 • Dr. MacArthur St. Clair

Lawman Without a Gun

Lawman Without a Gun

1979 • Tom Hayward

To Kill a Cop

1978 • Everett Walker

The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots

1978 • Self

Freeman

1977 • Rex

The Choirboys

1977 • Calvin Motts

The Deep

1977 • Henri Cloche

Little Ladies of the Night

Little Ladies of the Night

1977 • Russ Garfield

J.D.'s Revenge

1976 • Rev. Elija Bliss

The River Niger

The River Niger

1976 • Dr. Dudley Stanton

Delancey Street: The Crisis Within

Delancey Street: The Crisis Within

1975 • Otis James

Black Bart

1975 • Black Bart

The White Dawn

1974 • Portagee

Sidekicks

1974 • Jason O'Rourke

It's Good to Be Alive

It's Good to Be Alive

1974 • Sam Brockington

The Laughing Policeman

The Laughing Policeman

1973 • Insp. James Larrimore SFPD

Travels with My Aunt

Travels with My Aunt

1972 • Wordsworth

Skin Game

1971 • Jason O'Rourke

The Landlord

1970 • Copee Johnson

The Bushbaby

1969 • Tembo

Companions in Nightmare

Companions in Nightmare

1968 • Lt. Adam McKay

A Raisin in the Sun

A Raisin in the Sun

1961 • George Murchison

1960 • Mary's Brother

Forget to Remember

Unknown year

Unknown year • Cosmo

Crimes of Violence

Unknown year • Self - Host

Unknown year • Host

Unplugged

Unknown year • Amos Burton (voice)